Tiny Timber Tower Was Airlifted And Tucked Into The Green New Zealand Landscape

Tucked away in the beautiful native bush of Eastbourne, Wellington, New Zealand is the Karka Tower, an architectural structure that embodies the innovation and evolution of the architecture world. The compact and distinctive structure is designed by Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication and is intended to be an intelligent solution to the difficult terrain, and the client’s brief. The client wanted an additional dwelling on a challenging and steep site, next to his main home. To meet the owner’s requirement, the studio designed a tiny tower-like structure that functions as an annex to the pre-existing home.

Designer: Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication

The studio wanted to maximize the tower’s interior space, as well as its footprint, hence they stacked various modular volumes on top of each other. The volumes are prefabricated off-site from eucalypt rainscreen timber, and then moved to the site. Since it is difficult to access the site, the tower was transported in three parts, using a helicopter. Each volume weighed up to 2425 lb, and the fact that they were airlifted helped to reduce potential environmental impacts.

The Karaka Tower is nestled on a dense forest hillside, and it effortlessly blends with its surroundings, while providing stunning views of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. The tower occupies 97 square feet, and it contains a supplementary bedroom and an art studio. The structure’s interiors remind you of a treehouse accentuated with exposed macrocarpa timber framing. The tiny tower also features a panoramic open-air rooftop terrace, which provides access to uninterrupted views across treetops.

The Karaka Tower has an impressive thermal performance that is optimized for year-round comfort and energy efficiency. It features a comprehensive waterproofing system that is developed with Viking Roofspec, which provides airtightness and thermal insulation. The various modules have a double TPO membrane and a batten system for quick weatherproofing.

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LEGO Kung Fu Panda comes with a posable design, a jiggling belly, and a Tai Lung to battle with!

Armed with a dragon scroll, a bowl of noodles, and the ability to perform the epic Wixu Finger Hold, this LEGO Kung Fu Panda is ready to bring the battle to Tai Lung! Based on the first movie in the franchise, this submission to the LEGO Ideas Forum brings the adorable Po to life using LEGO bricks. The LEGO brick character features an entirely positionable body with movable hands, legs, fingers, head, and even eyebrows… and if all that wasn’t enough, Po even comes with a jiggling belly that bounces if you touch it! Talk about commitment to detail, right?!

Designer: Brixter

Designed by a LEGO Builder by the name of ‘Brixter’, this MOC (My Own Creation) features Po the panda and Tai Lung the snow leopard. The first movie was based on a journey of discovery, culminating in a battle for who would be the ‘Dragon Warrior’. The movie ends with Po performing the legendary Wuxi Finger Hold on Tai Lung – a frame so iconic Brixter even recreated it using the LEGO set below!

Skadoosh!

Although it’s unclear how many pieces are required for the LEGO build, the final figure stands at just roughly 3-4 inches tall, using LEGO Art Set bricks to create the final design. This is what gives the characters their distinct almost pixelated effect. The Po figurine comes with movable body parts, letting you make him look around, change facial expressions, practice kung fu, and even chow down on noodles and soup after a grueling training session!

But more notably, Po comes with a potbelly that actually jiggles when touched. Visible in the video above, you can press the belly inwards, or move it around, simulating the feeling of a large belly that moves around under its own weight!

Tai Lung, on the other hand, comes with a more muscular design, mimicking the physique of the snow leopard from the series. He’s got red eyes, a menacing glare with adjustable eyebrows, and a slightly tilted grin that comes with the hubris and confidence that Tai Lung had, believing he was destined to be the Dragon Warrior.

Brixter’s submission to the LEGO Ideas Forum managed to grab the eyes of LEGO’s internal team, which awarded the MOC a ‘Staff Pick’ badge. With just over 500 votes, Brixter is looking to get support from the broader LEGO community to help turn this into a retail box set. You can vote for the LEGO Kung Fu Panda on the LEGO Ideas website here.

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Anker’s new Soundcore Bluetooth sleep earbuds guarantee unmatched noise blocking… Yes, Snore Please!

A good night’s sleep is the best way to wake up energized and fresh the next morning. But if barking dogs in the neighborhood or a snoring partner alongside is giving you sleepless nights; noise-blocking sleep earbuds could be the go-to option to save yourself from any more nights spent tossing and turning.

If you are aware of noise-cancelling sleep earbuds, you may have already landed on the Anker Soundcore Sleep A10. An average option against a Bose or an Apple, the Soundcore A10 is now getting a refreshing uplift with the upcoming pair of Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds that are designed to block out as much outside noise as possible; deliver extra comfort while sleeping; and offer battery life that competitors don’t match.

Designer: Anker

Sleeping while wearing earbuds has not been a comfortable experience for me. I’m predominantly a side sleeper and the earbuds tend to hurt the ear when pressure is exerted. Anker believes it has worked its way around this problem with the new Twin-Seal ear tips that fit snuggly within the ear canal to ensure they are comfortable to wear in bed.

Even though the Soundcore Sleep A2 wireless earbuds are meant specially to block the outside noise while sleeping, the earbuds do not support active noise cancellation feature. Instead, it features a four-point noise-masking solution to ward off common disturbances such as snoring. This is made possible by the buds’ two-layer silicon construction with ear wings that offer “three times stronger passive noise blocking“ and “blend perfectly with the shape of your ear” spreading the “pressure evenly” for night-long comfort.

The new Anker earbuds can pair with Bluetooth device to play music, though information is scanty about the specs the Soundcore A20 would support. Things will become clearer in mid-April when Anker would start a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for its wireless sleep earbuds. Anker informs, the device will be offered at 40 percent discount through Kickstarter, and will go on sale for $150 after the crowdfunding campaign is over.

Until then, what we know from the company’s product page is that the device will feature a library of sleep noises that you can play to cancel out any seeping ambient sounds or perhaps to sleep to a piece of soothing music playing directly into your ear. Soundcore Sleep A2 touts a whopping 80-hour backup with a charging case in support. A companion for peaceful, disturbance-free sleep, it offers 14 hours of playback in Sleep mode and 10 hours of playback with Bluetooth.

 

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Studio VARA designs Sonoma County house to stand up to wildfires

Sonoma County house by Studio VARA

Local firm Studio VARA has completed Fire Country Lookout, a rural retreat in northern California that is wrapped in a protective shell made of standing-seam metal and is equipped to operate off the grid.

Located near the town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, the house sits on a hilltop dotted with oak trees.

Fire Country Lookout by Studio VARA
Fire Country Lookout is a rural retreat in California

A long, winding gravel road provides access to the dwelling, which was designed for a couple with three young children who desired a remote retreat.

The design was influenced by the husband’s upbringing in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his father ran a construction company and instilled in his son a love of “being out on the bush”.

Standing seam metal boxy home
Studio VARA wrapped the home in metal

“This legacy was top of mind when the couple visited the seemingly undisturbed lands of Healdsburg, which served as a reminder of the rolling hills of his childhood days,” said Studio VARA, an architectural firm based in San Francisco.

The team embarked on designing a sustainable and contextually sensitive house, a process that involved hiking the 15-acre (six-hectare) site and camping out there.

Standing seam rectilinear home overlooking a swimming pool
Two separate volumes make up the dwelling

“Observing solar and wind patterns and daily habits of local wildlife, the team collected data and first-hand experiences that would inform the nature of the design,” said the architects.

The team conceived a 3,896-square-foot (362-square-metre) home that stretches east to west along a ridge and is composed of two volumes separated by a breezeway.

Infinity pool
An infinity swimming pool was positioned to the north of the house

The home’s “prismatic form” is kinked at the centre to maximise views.

To the north of the main dwelling is an infinity swimming pool, a pool house and a carport.

Living space by Studio VARA
One finds a clear and fluid layout inside

The home has a concrete base and a structural frame made of glue-laminated timber.

Standing-seam zinc panels wrap the walls and roof, forming a tough shell that helps protect the home from the bright sun and the wildfires that erupt in the area.

Kitchen with a breakfast bar
Studio VARA added a kitchen with black accents

Within the home, one finds a clear and fluid layout, with the breezeway demarcating the public and private areas.

The western half of the home holds an open-plan kitchen, dining area and living room.

Bedroom
Bedrooms feature along the home’s eastern side

An angled, high ceiling and exposed wooden beams help create a feeling of “spaciousness and grandeur”.

The eastern side encompasses four bedrooms and a primary suite, all of which are arrayed along a single-loaded corridor.

The interior layout “sets the rhythm of the fenestration”. Covered terraces are lined with screens made of vertical cedar slats, which provide shade and privacy.

The home is designed to operate off the grid. A photovoltaic array generates energy, and solar panels heat water for daily use and the swimming pool. The house has its own septic system, water well, and supply of propane gas.

Deck with a dining table and chairs
Fire Country Lookout is equipped to operate off grid

Other projects in Sonoma County include a house by Field Architecture that consists of three pavilions clad in copper, and a horizontally oriented residence by Klopf Architecture that takes cues from mid-century modern architecture.

The photography is by Matthew Millman.


Project credits:

Architecture, interior design, landscape: Studio VARA
Studio VARA team (architecture): Chris Roach, Maura Fernández Abernethy, Andy Drake, Nick Brown, Luis Tilano
Studio VARA team (interior design): Maura Abernethy, Zoe Hsu, Jacqueline Lytle, Yennifer Pedraza, Gail Avila
Studio VARA team (landscape): Graham Quinn
Lighting design: Tucci Lighting
Structural engineering: Strandberg Engineering
Contractor: Fairweather and Associates
Pool contractor: Blue Revolution
Civil engineer: Adobe Associates
Mechanical engineer: Monterey Energy Group
Audio visual design: Audio Visual Engineering

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This Customizable Dining System Is Perfect For Your Spring Yard Picnics & Brunches

Designed by Belgian furniture brand Extremis, this modular outdoor dining system is named Panigiri, and it is designed to accommodate a whole bunch of people to sit comfortably in a range of seating options. The Panigiri dining system is designed by the Extremis founder Dirk Wynants, and it features a long table with either an attached bench seating or open space for chairs.

Designer: Extremis

Since spring is almost here, the Panigiri dining system is excellent for your yards. It features various benches which are divided so that each seating spot can be easily and efficiently accessed, without having to clamber over it. There is also an option of an add-on called the Bring Your Own Seat (BYOS), and it can be easily hooked onto the benches to build a supportive, comfy, and chair-like sitting experience with a backrest.

The dining system is named after the Greek words “pan” and “giri” which means “all” and “gathering”. The seating solution was designed to encourage and facilitate communal dining, where family members and loved ones can gather to share a lovely meal. The table can be customized to any desired length, capable of seating any number of people.

The dining system is available in three iterations – the Panigiri picnic, Panigiri Table, and Panigiri Combo. The Panigiri Picnic has a picnic-table-style setup with bench seating, while the Table features no built-in seating, and can be used with supplementary chairs. The Combo merges the elements of both these styles and formats. The furniture is made from steel and ash wood and is designed for longevity. Extremis utilized the excess wood from other collections to build the dining system, in turn minimizing the environmental impact they create. The dining system is perfect for lovely spring picnics or Sunday brunches with your friends or families, although it isn’t very tiny, and would need some space in your yard, you could customize it to get the length that perfectly works for you and your backyard.

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Retro laptop concept takes the mechanical keyboard trend to the next level

The retro craze shows no sign of slowing down as more people discover the wonderful quirks of designs from the past. It has even reached a point where designs are being applied to things that are somewhat unrelated to the original. We’re seeing computers that look like gaming consoles from the 90s, for example, or media players that would make you think they could play cassette tapes. This laptop has the same feel, although it barely looks like the workstations of Eld. Instead, it takes its cue from the design trend that’s gripping the computer accessories industry, applying not just the aesthetics but even the materials of retro mechanical keyboards to envision a workstation that, while powerful, isn’t made for gamers but especially for developers.

Designer: Wonjae Kim

Mechanical keyboards have always had an old-school ring to them, literally and figuratively. Their chunky keycaps and metallic sounds feel like just a few steps away from typewriters, especially with the prevalence of “chiclet” keyboards with soft sounds and short travel. Some accessory makers have taken that association even further by embracing the designs of keyboards from decades ago, and that same gray and literally edgy aesthetic is being applied to a laptop aimed at people who code more than those who play games.

Inspired by Lofree’s line of PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) retro mechanical keyboards, this workstation concept has the same shapes, colors, and even materials that would remind one of those old-school keyboards, particularly with the use of blocky forms and a limited number of shades of gray with a single orange accent to break the monotony. The design isn’t apologetic about being a little bit thicker than most laptops that are aiming to grab the “slimmest” title at the expense of performance or flexibility.

That said, the laptop only looks retro but the concept is actually quite forward-looking. The bezels around the screen, for example, are thin, something that would have been inconceivable in older laptops. The most notable feature, however, is the touch display on the right side of the keyboard that can be used for different purposes, depending on the situation. It can be a numeric keypad, a to-do list, or even a game to give your brain time to breathe after a long and intense coding marathon.

Despite trying to evoke retro aesthetics, this Lofree-inspired workstation is quite clean and minimalist so you won’t stand out from the crowd in a negative manner. Using the same PBT material for the keyboard would make the emulation more authentic, but it wouldn’t be practical for a laptop chassis that needs to be a bit more durable. It’s definitely an interesting design and one that will easily rise from a sea of black and white laptops that have flooded the market today.

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Lissoni Architecture creates expansion for Design Holding with "melting pot attitude"

Floating lamps

Local studio Lissoni Architecture has expanded the Design Holding flagship in New York City, creating an entirely new floor outfitted with light displays and curving metallic installations.

Lissoni Architecture, the US branch of Italian studio Lissoni & Partners, created an entirely new second floor and redesigned a portion of the first floor for the Design Holding showroom, which displays furniture and lighting brands including B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena.

New York building facade
Lissoni Architecture has created an expansion for the Design Holding showroom in New York

Lighting and design elements from the brands were distributed across the second-floor space, spread out amongst vertical stone-clad panels, transparent, metal showcases, and curving chrome benches and walls.

Each area of the floor was dedicated to a specific brand and the interior architecture was tailored to each brand’s identity, according to the studio.

Red chair in showroom
The project encompasses a new second floor and an expansion and redesign of the first

“We wanted to share the melting pot attitude of New York City where everyone and everything can blend together holistically so we went to the essence of the iconic brands,” said Lissoni Architecture founder Piero Lissoni.

“[We highlighted] their DNA and proposed a common ground that could host and enhance the design codes of each identity.”

A wall of lights and windows
The studio created dedicated areas for brands including Flos and B&B Italia

For lighting brand Flos, the studio created a series of display cases backed by a transparent mesh. A magnetized, geometric Bilboquet light by designer Philippe Malouin is on display, as well as the Almendra chandelier affixed with almond-shaped flakes by Patricia Urquiola.

A testing room for clients was also created for the brand, which consists of a curved, metal wall that meets a series of angled panels that act as an entrance for the room.

Tables in a showroom
The various displays were informed by the “melting pot” attitude of New York City

Another corner of the floor was dedicated to the display of the Skynest chandelier by Marcel Wanders, which resembles an inverted basket interlaced with cords of light.

Displays for Flos and Louis Poulsen consist of inserted panels and curving planting beds that are populated with a number of lighting fixtures from both brands.

A room with a curving metal wall
Metallic panels, warm wood, and dark cladding were used throughout the second-floor space

Dark, metal cladding used in the Flos displays contrasts the off-white and beiges used throughout the Louis Poulsen space, but both flank a B&B Italia lounge that sits at the centre of the floor, which features a bright-red chair from the Up series by Gaetano Pesce.

A B&B Italia wardrobe was also created for the showroom, which sits next to an Arclinea kitchen display.

A black ash finish was used to clad a large cabinet unit, which sits behind a Thea island topped with a quartz waterfall countertop.

Lighting by Louis Poulsen, including the Patera Oval pendant by designer Øivind Slaatt, was tucked into the furthest corner of the space, with pieces distributed amongst wooden tables and a low-lying display unit.

A show room with white furniture
A separate entrance leads to a Maxalto space on the first floor

On the first floor, a new space dedicated to Maxalto is accessible through a separate entrance, with pieces such as the brand’s Arbiter sofa system positioned against walls clad in black.

Design Holding, a global retailer founded in 2018, recently added furniture brands MenuBy Lassen and Brdr Petersen to its portfolio after an agreement with Denmark-based company Designers Company.

Piero Lissoni announced the founding of the US branch of his studio last year, saying that the US has become more “open-minded” in terms of architecture.

The photography is courtesy Design Holding.

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Adjaye Associates appoints CEOs to lead studio in its "next chapter"

Portrait of David Adjaye

Architecture studio Adjaye Associates has announced a new leadership structure, eight months after the studio lost numerous projects in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against its founder.

The studio named Kofi Bio, Lucy Tilley, and Pascale Sablan as CEOs of its Accra, London, and New York studios, with founder David Adjaye becoming executive chair of the group.

“Each will have sole executive leadership of the studios, in charge of all operations, whilst continuing to lead projects and business development,” Adjaye Associates said.

David Adjaye will continue leading studio’s “design direction”

Adjaye will remain as Adjaye Associates’ principal architect and will “continue to lead Adjaye Associates’ design direction”.

The architect said the change in management was the result of “professional advice” over the past six months and that the time was right to devolve the studio’s management.

“Today’s announcement reflects a fundamental change in the way Adjaye Associates will now be run,” he said. “Over the last six months I have been taking professional advice on how to best reflect the firm’s considerable evolution over the last five years.”

“Whilst I will continue to lead the design direction of my firm, it is now the right time to devolve the management of the studios,” he continued.

“Kofi, Lucy, and Pascale are exceptional leaders whose diverse perspectives and capabilities will give us the platform to succeed in our next chapter.”

Reshuffle follows sexual assault allegations

Adjaye was accused of sexual assault and harassment by three former employees in 2023, with allegations detailed in British newspaper the Financial Times. He denies the allegations.

“I absolutely reject any claims of sexual misconduct, abuse or criminal wrongdoing,” Adjaye told the FT. “These allegations are untrue, distressing for me and my family and run counter to everything I stand for.”

In the fallout from the allegations, multiple projects by the studio have been cancelled, including a campus for The Africa Institute and Adjaye’s design for the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool.

The photo is by Ed Reeve.

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Geese-Inspired Towed Cargo Gliders

If you need to carry more cargo than your car can hold, you can use a trailer. This is more economical and logistically simpler than, say, adding a second vehicle and driver.

Fascinatingly, this concept may soon be applied to cargo planes, thanks to a Texas-based startup called Aerolane. They were inspired not by U-Haul, but by geese, who fly in formation to save energy. (Stronger birds in the front deal with the bulk of the wind resistance, while the ones behind benefit from the windbreak.) They also point to the usage of towed gliders by the Allies in WWII.

Thus Aerolane is working on the Aerocart, an autonomous cargo glider that would be towed behind a cargo airplane. The Aerocart needs no pilot nor engine, and Aerolane’s technology would allow the glider to both take off and land in-tow.

The company also says it’s possible to tow more than one Aerocart.

The benefits would be enormous. “When towing Aerocarts, standard planes instantly double or triple their capacity when flying a mission,” the company says. “This is possible because planes are capacity-limited by the takeoff / landing weight – not what they can safely pull through the air.”

“Aerocarts dramatically upsize capacity but marginally increase fuel burn on the tow plane. Moving cargo by Aerocart uses 65% less overall operating costs per pound driven primarily by a massive reduction in fuel used when compared with flying that cargo on additional standard planes.”

The concept is likely to be popular with air freight companies; the incumbent way to increase capacity is to add another plane, and another pilot. The Aerocart would be a simple and less expensive add-on. “Towed cargo gliders are conceptually capable of flying behind any plane. Aerocart takes advantage of this to be a true ‘drop-in’ upgrade capable of instantly increasing the capacity of existing fleets of aircrafts.”

Also, Aerolane says that 65% cost savings could make air freight cost-competitive with ground freight. If that’s true, we’d receive packages a heckuva lot faster.

The company is currently developing “a number of Aerocart sizes to accommodate towing behind a wide range of aircraft, pending FAA certification.” They expect to start rolling them out in 2025.

Meta Quest 3S images leak online, hinting at an even more affordable VR headset

Upscaled using AI

The Meta Quest 3 was supposed to be the cheaper alternative to the Meta Quest Pro… but now leaked photos from an internal presentation show a new device called the Meta Quest 3S, a ‘lite’ version of the already wildly popular VR headset. Sparked by user u/LuffySanKira on Reddit, screenshots supposedly from a Meta user research session offer a glimpse of the potential Quest 3s. The images showcase the rumored headset alongside the standard Quest 3, revealing some key specifications.

Designer: Meta

The Quest 3s is expected to be a more affordable version of its pricier counterpart. According to the leaks, it will feature a display resolution of 1920 x 1832 with 20 pixels per degree (PPD). This falls short of the Quest 3’s rumored 2208 x 2064 resolution and 25.5 PPD. Storage capacity is also speculated to be lower at 256GB compared to the Quest 3’s 512GB.

The leaked images provide a visual comparison as well. The Quest 3s appears slightly smaller overall, with the most noticeable difference being the front sensors. The Quest 3 has three oval cutouts, while the Quest 3s sports a configuration of six stacked cutouts, three on either side. These leaks are yet to be confirmed by Meta. However, they offer an exciting possibility for VR fans seeking a more accessible entry point into the world of virtual reality.

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